Bring ’Em Young

for the late Leonard J. Arrington

According to one historian, Brigham Young
had “a talent for mimicry”—a talent
the Lord used to convince the Saints that
Brigham was Joseph Smith’s successor,
but that Brigham later used to poke fun
at his fellow apostle John Taylor’s
elegant voice, dress, and mannerisms.
(Taylor loyally disliked him for that.)

“Brother Brigham” had a habit of
keeping his back turned on folks
who came to his office—which was
rude and intimidating. He also reveled
in telling church members brave enough
to disagree with him that they might
as well “apostasize and go to hell.”
(It was either hell or California.)

President Young married several of
Joseph Smith’s widows—you know, “to
protect and care for them.” But over
the years he tended to neglect them.
Some had to petition him endlessly for
maintenance and simple necessities,
while he traipsed through the territory
(with a favored wife in his carriage).

Note: If you happen to be leading some
difficult people across a figurative

wilderness toward a “promised land,”
it’s likely that one day your faults and
flaws—your magnificent weaknesses—
will be “outed” from the page-tops,
perhaps by some pipsqueak poet
(in his private hell, or California).